Waves Guide

Core loop

• Spawn into the arena (up to 25 players per server).
• Survive the current zombie wave — kills and survival earn Credits.
• Use the buy phase between waves to upgrade weapon / health / place gear (turrets, barricades).
• Push the wave counter higher for increased Credit payout — leaderboard ranks max wave reached.
• Auto Skip: server-wide vote to end buy phase early and start the next wave faster.

Early waves — bank Credits

Kill efficiently with the starter handgun. Do not panic-spend on class swaps mid-run. Upgrade to shotgun before first elite-style spawns. Source: Public beginner guides · verified.

Mid → late waves — class tools take over

When pack sizes spike, lean on Tactician Spike Traps and Steel Barricades, Demolitionist Shockwave Bomb, and Necromancer Death Nova. Auto Skip becomes correct once your loadout outscales current payout. Source: Public tier lists.

Team role split

Credit spending — Early waves

Weapon first, always

• Handgun → shotgun as soon as Credits allow.
• Redeem Zombies code (2,500 Credits) before the run.
• One barricade at main stairwell + one turret before any Auto Skip vote.
• Do not unlock a class before first weapon upgrade.

Credit spending — Mid waves

First class unlock and gear

• Marksman (15k) for solo DPS or Medic (10k) for co-op support.
• Add one Health upgrade — late-wave chip damage starts earlier than expected.
• Skip Ninja (25k) as a first unlock.

Credit spending — Late waves

Scale toward Legendary

• Bank toward Tactician (75k), Bastion (200k), or Necromancer (250k).
• Late waves pay more Credits per kill than early waves.
• Hardcore Mode nerfed 10 → 7.5 Credits/zombie (May 8, 2026 patch).

Auto Skip — vote yes

Server-wide vote ends buy phase early. Only vote yes when the team is structurally ready.

• At least one barricade placed at main stairwell entry.
• At least one turret behind barricade and operational.
• Everyone has shotgun upgrade minimum.
• Current wave ended with time to spare; no one mid-spend.
• Mid/late waves where loadout outscales current payout.

Auto Skip — vote no (hold)

• Any teammate still placing barricades or turrets.
• Someone mid-upgrade without confirming spend.
• Team still on starter handgun.
• After a position wipe — need full buy phase to re-anchor.
• Early waves before kit is solid.

Nightmare Mode

Nightmare Mode added May 8, 2026 Mini Content Update (official Discord #patch-notes). Wave scaling, enemy HP/damage differences, win conditions, and reward payouts vs Normal Mode are not published externally. Status: confirmed_exists_mechanics_unverified.

Stage 1 — First unlock (0–15k)

• Medic (10k) for co-op or Marksman (15k) for solo
• Both A-tier — massive jump from Survivor
• Skip Ninja as first unlock

Stage 2 — Mid-tier (15k–75k)

• Engineer (20k) stepping stone only
• Demolitionist (50k) for crowd control
• Tactician (75k) highest-impact mid-tier anchor on Rooftop Map

Stage 3 — Legendary (200k+)

• Bastion (200k) co-op Legendary — Bunker squad survival
• Necromancer (250k) solo/leaderboard — Death Nova ceiling
• May 8, 2026 Necromancer buff: higher minion speed + damage

Data gaps

• Per-wave enemy counts and HP scaling are in-game only.
• Boss-wave intervals and mechanics not documented in tracked sources.
• Nightmare Mode mechanics unverified externally.